Mobile mapping and navigation

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for mapping and navigation are provided. In implementations, the systems and methods perform operations including receiving, via a network, a message from a messaging application of a mobile device of a user requesting a map of a mapped area. The operations also include generating the map of the mapped area displaying an icon indicating a location of the user. Further, the operations include sending, via the network, the map to the messaging application of the mobile device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/105,629 filed Aug. 20, 2018, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Current mapping and navigation services for mobile devices (e.g.,smartphones) can give real-time directions using dedicated mappingapplications. Such mapping and navigation services may combine mapinformation from a number of publicly-accessible sources, such assatellite imagery, aerial imagery, street maps, panoramic street views,public transportation system, and routing services, and business listingservices. For example, the panoramic views can be obtained by camerasmounted to vehicles driven on public roads. Some mapping and navigationservices may also provide indoor map of public places, such as airportsand shopping malls. However, private areas are generally not open tocollection of mapping data by commercial mapping and navigationservices. For example, commercial mapping and navigation services maynot be permitted access to the interiors of private properties (e.g.,hospitals) to obtain map information. Hence, such mapping and navigationservices may not be available to an individual who visits a privateproperty. And, even if mapping and navigation services are provided bythe private property, the individual's mobile device may lack acorresponding mapping application used to access the mapping serviceoffered by the private property. In some situations, the mobile devicemay be a feature phone (e.g., a flip-phone) that lacks any capability todownload or execute the mapping application. In other situations, theuser may be unable to obtain the mapping application. For example,downloading applications may not be permitted by the terms of theindividual's cellular telephone service. Therefore, a need exists for asystem and method for providing mapping and navigation services toindividuals whose mobile devices lack a mapping application used tonavigate such non-public areas.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods for mapping and navigation are provided. Inimplementations, the systems and methods perform operations includingreceiving, via a network, a message from a messaging application of amobile device of a user requesting a map of a mapped area. Theoperations also include generating the map of the mapped area displayingan icon indicating a location of the user. Further, the operationsinclude sending, via the network, the map to the messaging applicationof the mobile device.

DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a system block diagram illustrating an example of anenvironment for implementing systems and processes in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a mapping systemcommunicating with a mobile device in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a flow block diagram illustrating an example of a processin accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a flow block diagram illustrating an example of a processin accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a flow block diagram illustrating an example of a processin accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a diagram illustrating an example of map display inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram illustrating an example of map display inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows a diagram illustrating an example of map display inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows table illustrating an example of a data structure inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows table illustrating an example of a data structure inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is generally directed to mapping and navigationsystems and methods. More specifically, implementations of systems andmethods consistent with the present disclosure can determine locationand routing information of a user of a mobile device without any mappingand navigation application being installed on the mobile device. Forexample, the location and routing information can be provided using atext messaging application (e.g., short message service (SMS) ormultimedia messaging service (MMS)) or a chat application. Further, insome implementations, the systems and methods provide the location androuting information using a chatbot that monitors messaging or chatapplications for messages that indicate that a user desires location androuting information, and automatically responds to such messages byinteracting with the user to provide the location and routinginformation. Additionally, in some implementations, the mapping andnavigation systems and methods determine the current location of theuser based on communication between the user's mobile device and one ormore network nodes. For example, based on the signal strength of Wi-Fisignals between the mobile device and different wireless access pointsdistributed around an area (e.g., a building interior), methods andsystems disclosed herein can determine the location of the user withrespect to the wireless access points and update such location as theuser moves through the building with the wireless device.

Reference will now be made in detail to specific implementationsillustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth to provide athorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art that implementations may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been describedin detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of theimplementations.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of an environment 1for implementing systems and processes in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure. The environment 1 can include a user 5, a mappedarea 7, a mobile device 10 of the user 5, a mapping and navigationsystem 20, a mobile network 23, and a wireless network 25. The user 5can be an individual that desires location or routing information forthe mapped area 7. For the example, the user 5 can be a visitor to themapped area 7. The mapped area 7 can be a region (e.g., an area or avolume) for which map and spatial data has been pre-stored by themapping and navigation system 20. The mapped area can be, for example,region of land (e.g., a park) or a space within a building. In someimplementations, the mapped area can be a region that limits accesses tothe public (physically and/or legally), such as a non-public park orbuilding.

In accordance with implementations of the present disclosure, the mappedarea 7 can include signs 33 and wireless access points 35 at differentlocations around the mapped area 7. The signs 33A can be physicalsignage (e.g., a static or dynamic billboard) that conveys locationinformation and directions. The signs 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F(collectively “signs 33”) can include respective identifying informationuniquely identifying the individual signs 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, 33F.In some implementations, the identifying information can be alphanumerictext that can be read by the user 5 and entered into the mobile device10 (e.g., using a keypad or dictation). In some embodiments, theidentifying information can be computer-readable codes (e.g., barcode orQR code) that can be captured by a sensor (e.g., camera) of the mobiledevice 10. In some embodiments, the signs 33 can providecomputer-readable information identifying the individual signs 33A, 33B,33C, 33D, 33E, and 33F via a short-range communication (e.g.,radio-frequency identification (RFID), low-energy BLUETOOOTH, or passiveWi-Fi). Additionally, the signs 33 can include contact information forcommunicating to with the mapping and navigation system 20 using amessaging application (e.g., “Text #333 to Obtain Your Location andDirections”).

The wireless access points (WAPs) 35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 35E, and 35F(collectively “wireless access points 35”) can be nodes of the wirelessnetwork 25. For example, for some implementations in which the mappedarea 7 is inside a building, the wireless access points 35 can be partof local area network, such as nodes of a Wi-Fi network. For someimplementations in which the mapped area 7 is a large parkland, thewireless access points 35 can be nodes of a cellular telephone network(e.g., cell site or cell tower of a Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) network). Some or all of the wireless access points35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 35E, and 35F can be associated with respective onesof the signs 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, and 33F. For example, the sign 33Acan be located proximate (e.g., within 10 meters) to the wireless accesspoint 35A and may be placed in the sight line of the user 5 (e.g.between 2-3 meters high). In some implementations, the wireless accesspoints 35 can be combined with, attached directly to, or integrated intothe signs 33. Further, in some implementations the signs 33 and/or thewireless access points can incorporate other tracking systems, such asproximity detectors (e.g. BLUETOOTH proximity detectors), or imagingdevices (e.g., image tracking and facial recognition cameras).

The mobile device 10 can be a portable computing system. In someimplementations, the mobile device 10 can be a user device providing acomputer-user interface (e.g., a graphic user interface) with which theuser 5 can interact with a messaging application to send and receivemessages to other individuals and services, including the mapping andnavigation system 20. In various implementations, the mobile device 10can be a laptop computer system (e.g., a notebook computer), a handheldcomputing device (e.g., a smartphone), or a wearable device (e.g., asmartwatch), other portable user device that executes a messagingapplication (e.g. a messaging client) and which can communicativelyconnect (directly or indirectly) to the mapping and navigation system 20via the mobile network 23 and the wireless network 25. In someimplementations, the mobile device 10 can be an autonomous system, suchas a mobile robot. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure,the mobile device 10 may lack any installed mapping or navigationapplication (e.g., GOOGLE MAPS, APPLE MAPS, BING MAPS, HERE MAP,WIKIMAPIA MAP, MAPQUEST MAP, TOMTOM MAP, WAZE MAP, and YANDEX MAP.) Themobile device 10 may or may also lack a mapping application whichleverages software development tools that enable developers to embedfunctionality from common mapping applications (e.g., those listed inthe previous sentence). Instead, the mobile device 10 may can include aSMS application, a MMS application, a chat application, or other suchmessaging applications (e.g., APPLE MESSAGES, FACEBOOK MESSENGER, YAHOO!MESSENGER, TRILLIAN, ADIUM, and WHATSAPP).

The mapping and navigation system 20 can be one or more computingdevices communicatively linked to the mobile device 10 through themobile network 23 and/or the wireless network 25, and which provideslocation and routing services to the user 5. In implementations, themapping and navigation system 20 can be provided by an owner or operatorof the mapped area 7. As detailed herein below, the mapping andnavigation system 20 can include one or more computers that host mapinformation, generate maps of the mapped area 7, and communicate themaps to the mobile device 10.

The mobile network 23 can be, for example, a wideband or broadbandcellular network, which is communicatively coupled to mobile device 10and the access points 35 though wireless network 25. The wirelessnetwork 25 can be a wireless communication network that can becommunicatively coupled to the mobile device 10, the mapping andnavigation system 20, and the wireless access points 35. In someimplementations, the wireless network 25 can be a wide area network or alocal area network. For example, the wireless network can be a Wi-Finetwork or the like. The mobile device 10 and the mapping and navigationsystem 20 can communicatively exchange information through the mobilenetwork 23 and the wireless network 25. For example, the mobile device10 can wirelessly transmit messages for the mapping and navigationsystem 20 through a cellular phone network 29, which can pass themessages to the mapping and navigation system 20 through a wide areanetwork 31 (e.g., the Internet).

In an example consistent with some implementations of the presentdisclosure, the user 5 carrying the mobile device 10 in the mapped area7 may desire directions to a location, such as destination 39 of themapped area 7. In the present example, the mapped area 7 can be ahospital and the destination can be a particular room, such as anoffice, a laboratory, a clinic, or a cafeteria, etc.) within thehospital. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, themobile device 10 may lack any mapping and navigation application for thehospital, or there may be no commercial service offering mapping andnavigation information inside the hospital. For example, the mobiledevice may be a feature phone lacking any mapping or navigationapplication. Instead, in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure, the user 5 can obtain location and routing information fromthe mapping and navigation system 20 using a messaging applicationexecuted by the mobile device 10. More specifically, the user 5 can usethe messaging application to send a message 50 to the mapping andnavigation system 20 through the mobile network 23 or the wirelessnetwork 25. The message 50 can include identification information of themobile device 10 (e.g., a MAC address) and identification information ofthe sign 33A closest to the user 5 and can constitute a request forlocation and routing information to the destination 39. In some cases,the user 5 can obtain contact information (e.g., a telephone number orcode) of the mapping and navigation system 20 and the identificationinformation of the sign 33A by reading the sign 33A, and manuallyinputting such information into the messaging application. In someimplementations, the user 5 can obtain the contact information of themapping and navigation system 20 and identification information of thesign 33A wirelessly using sensors on the mobile device (e.g., camera orRFID reader). Additionally, in some implementations, the wireless accesspoints 35 can be intelligent beacons that automatically detect theproximity of the mobile device 10 and cause the messaging application todisplay message through a user interface of the mobile device 10 askingthe user 5 to indicate whether the user 5 would like to request locationand routing information.

Together with the request message 50, or in one or more follow-upmessages 50, the user can provide information to the mapping andnavigation system 20 identifying their desired destination, such asdestination 39. For instance, in response to offering the location androuting information, the user may reply, “I need directions to thecafeteria.” Using information extracted in the one or more messages 50(e.g., using natural language processing), the mapping and navigationsystem 20 can determine contact information for the mobile device 10,the location identifier of the sign 33A, and the location of thedestination 39.

Further, in some implementations, the wireless access points 35 candetermine signal strengths of wireless signals 59A, 59B, and 59G(collectively wireless signals 59) communicated between the mobiledevice 10 and the wireless access points to determine respectivedistances between the mobile devices and the wireless access points. Thewireless signals 59 can be, for example, probe requests transmitted(e.g., broadcast) by the mobile device 10 when attempting to select oneof the wireless access points 35 for establishing a connection with thewireless network 25 (e.g. a Wi-Fi probe request). In response toreceiving such probe requests (e.g., a Wi-Fi probe responses), thewireless access points 35 in range of the mobile device 10'stransmission may determine respective signal strengths 61 and canprovide such information to the mobile device 10. Using the receivedsignal strengths, the mobile device 10 or the mapping and navigationsystem 20 can passively track the location of the user 5 as the user 5navigates moves through the hospital to the destination 39. In someimplementations, the signal strengths can be sent from the mobile device10 to the mapping and navigation system 20, and in some implementations,the signal strengths 61 can be sent directly from the wireless accesspoints 35 to the mapping and navigation system through the wirelessnetwork 25 in association with a unique identifier of the mobile device10 (e.g., a MAC address). In some implementations, the mapping andnavigation system 20 can also passively track the location of the user 5by facial recognition using cameras in the mapped area 7.

Using the information obtained from the message 50 and the signalstrengths 61, the mapping and navigation system 20 can generate amapping information 55 and send a message including the mappinginformation 55 to the messaging application of the mobile device 10 viathe wireless network 25 and/or the mobile network 23. The mappinginformation 55 can indicate (e.g., semantically and visually) thelocation of the mobile device 10 at a position at or near the sign 33Aand a route from the location of the user 5 to the destination 39. Asthe mobile device 10 moves through the hospital, the mapping andnavigation system 20 can automatically determine the location of themobile device 10 with respect to the different wireless access points 35and send updated maps 55 to the messaging application of the mobiledevice 10 showing the mobile device's 10 current position and route tothe destination 39. Such updates may be provided by sending andreceiving messages via a SMS, an MMS, or a chat application.

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram illustrating a system 200 thatprovides location and routing information, in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The system 200 can include a mobile device 10and mapping and navigation system 20, which can be the same or similarto those previously described previously. The mobile device 10 can be aportable computer, such as a smartphone, laptop computer, or similardevice including wireless communication means (e.g., GSM modem,Bluetooth, RFID, infrared), a display device (e.g., a liquid crystaldisplay or light-emitting diode display), and a data input device (e.g.,keyboard for text entry and microphone for dictation). The mobile device10 can also include hardware, software, or a combination thereof fordetecting the location and movement (e.g., Global Positioning System(GPS) and accelerometers for performing inertial guidance and stepdetection). Further, the mobile device 10 can include a messagingapplication 205. The messaging application 205 can be, for example, atext messaging application (e.g., a SMS client), a multimedia messagingapplication (e.g., an MMS client), or a chat application (e.g., FACEBOOKMESSENGER). In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, themessaging application 205 may lack any mapping and navigationfunctionality. For example, the mobile device 10 can lack any mappingand navigation application or any interface capable of obtaininglocation and routing information from the mapping and navigation system20 or capable of generating a map based on information provided by themapping and navigation system 20. That is, while the mobile device 10can include a mapping and navigation application (e.g., GOOGLE MAPS)such application may not be compatible with or have access to themapping and navigation system 20. In some implementations, the messagingapplication 205 can be a pure SMS, MMS, or chat application the solelyfunctions to create, send, and receive text or multimedia messages(e.g., message 50).

The mapping and navigation system 20 can include a messaging module 209,a mapping and navigation module 213, and mapping and navigationinformation 217. The messaging module 209 can be software, hardware, ora combination thereof that provides one or more messaging sessionsbetween the mapping and navigation system 20 and the mobile device 10.For example, the messaging module 209 can provide a messaging session221 (e.g., text messages) through which a user (e.g., user 5) of themobile device 10 communicates with the mapping and navigation system 20via a messaging application 205 executed by the mobile device 10. Themapping and navigation system 20 can receive one or more messages 50from the mobile device 10 and provide one or more maps 55 to the mobiledevice 10 using a communication link 229. The messages 50 and maps 55can be the same or similar to those describe previously. Thecommunication link 229 can be wireless connection established betweenthe mobile device 10 and the mapping and navigation system 20 throughone or more communication networks (e.g., mobile network 23 and wirelessnetwork 25).

In implementations, the messaging module 209 can execute the programcode of a chatbot 225, which can be software, hardware, or combinationthereof configured to monitor the messaging session 221, automaticallydetect messages 50 including terminology indicating a request forlocation and routing information in the messaging session 221, andinteractively respond to such requests though the messaging session 221.The chatbot 225 can use logical rules and/or heuristic rules todetermine and select questions for eliciting the information needed togenerate the mapping information 55. In implementations, the chatbot 225can use natural language processing to hold conversations (via textand/or speech) with users of the mobile device 10 (e.g., IBM WATSON™ byINTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES INC., of Armonk, N.Y., and naturallanguage processing by OPENAI.COM). The natural language processingperformed by the chatbot 225 can be adapted to interpret conversationsin the context of locations and routing. In implementations, theconversation can be carried out entirely via text, entirely via speech,or using a combination of text, speech, and other computer-userinterfaces. For example, the chatbot 225 can monitor the messagingsession 221 for a predefined keywords or combinations of such keywords.The predefined keywords or combinations thereof may trigger the chatbot225 to intervene in the messaging session 221 and begin conversing withthe user in the messaging session 221 to obtain a complete set ofinformation for generating the mapping information 55. For example,various predetermined combinations of words may indicate that the userneeds assistance in requesting location information or routinginformation. The messaging module 209 may receive a message from themobile device 10 including a natural language query, such as, “I needdirections.” By monitoring the messaging session 221, the chatbot 225can be triggered to start a conversation with the user (e.g., “What isyour destination?”). Subsequently, the chatbot 225 can interactivelyengage in conversation with the user 5 in the messaging session 221 toobtain the user's current location (e.g., near sign 33A) and the user'sdestination (e.g., destination 39).

The mapping and navigation module 213 can be software, hardware, or acombination thereof that generates the mapping information 55 basedinformation obtained from the user in the one or more messages 50 and/orby the chatbot 225. The mapping and navigation module 213 can include anumber of functional modules, including an information extraction module241, a location determination module 243, a destination determinationmodule 245, a map generation module 247, and a message generation module249. While these modules are described as separate for the sake ofexplanation, it is understood that the functionality of some or all ofthe modules can be combined or subdivided.

The information extraction module 241 may be configured to parseinformation received in the one or more messages 50 to extract theinformation including the contact information for the mobile device 10(e.g., user ID, telephone number, and email address), a deviceidentifier (e.g., a MAC address), the location information of the mobiledevice (e.g., predetermined identifying information of sign 33A), anddestination information (e.g., text or code identifying a destination39). Additionally, the messages 50 can include signal strengthinformation for one or more wireless access points (e.g., wirelessaccess points 35A, 35B, and 35E), which can be used to determine acurrent location of the user.

The location determination module 243 can be configured to determine thecurrent location of the mobile device 10 based on the locationinformation obtained from the chatbot 225 or the information extractionmodule 241. For example, the location information may indicate that theuser is near a particular sign (e.g., sign 33A) in an area (e.g., mappedarea 7). As discussed previously, the sign can be proximate to (e.g.,within five yards) and associated with a particular wireless accesspoint (e.g., wireless access point 35A) a predetermined location. Suchassociations and locations can be stored and retrieved from the mappingand navigation information 217. Thus, based on the location informationof the sign received from the mobile device 10, the locationdetermination module 243 can determine the location of the user.Additionally, the location determination module 243 can track the mobiledevice 10 and update the location as the user moves through the area.For example, the location determination module 243 can estimate theuser's current location based on the signal strengths (e.g., signalstrengths 61) of wireless transmissions (e.g., wireless signals 59, suchas probe requests) sent by the mobile device 10 to different wirelessaccess points (e.g., wireless access points 35) whose respectivelocations are pre-stored by the mapping and navigation system 20. (SeeFIG. 9.)

The destination determination module 245 can be configured to determinea location of the destination. In some implementations a destinationidentifier can be obtained from the chatbot 225 and the informationextraction module 241. In some implementations, the destinationidentifier be obtained from pre-stored user information (e.g.,appointment information in a calendar of the user). Using thedestination identifier, the destination determination module 245 canreference destination information stored in the mapping and navigationinformation 217 to identify a particular location (e.g., coordinates)corresponding to a name of a destination (e.g., “cafeteria”). (See FIG.10.)

The map generation module 247 can be configured to determine a routebetween the location of the mobile device determined by the locationdetermination module 243 and the location of the destination determinedby the destination determination module 245. Additionally, the mapgeneration module 247 can be configured to render a map including thecurrent location of the user, the location of the destination, and theroute therebetween on a map stored by the mapping and navigationinformation 217. For example, the map generation module 247 may generatethe mapping information 55 by retrieving a copy of a map of the mappedarea and overlay icons or other graphics indicating the currentlocation, the destination location, and the route on the retrieved map.(See FIGS. 6-8.)

The message generation module 249 can be configured to generate amessage for the messaging module 209 for providing the mappinginformation 55 to the user. The message can include the mappinginformation 55 generated by the map generation module 247 and can besent to the contact number of the mobile device 10 extracted by theinformation extraction module 241.

FIG. 3 shows a system block diagram illustrating an example of a mappingand navigation system 20, which can be the same or similar to thatdescribed above. The mapping and navigation system 20 includes hardwareand software that perform the processes and functions disclosed herein.The mapping and navigation system 20 includes a computing device 330, aninput/output (I/O) device 333, and a storage system 335. The I/O device333 can include any device that enables an individual to interact withthe computing device 330 (e.g., a user interface) and/or any device thatenables the computing device 330 to communicate with one or more othercomputing devices using any type of communications link. The I/O device333 can be, for example, a touchscreen display, pointer device,keyboard, etc. The I/O device 333 and the network interface can, forexample, provide a wired or wireless data connection (e.g.,communication link 229).

The storage system 335 can comprise a computer-readable, non-volatilehardware storage device that stores information and programinstructions. For example, the storage system 335 can be one or moreflash drives and/or hard disk drives. In accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure, the storage system 335 can store maps 353, wirelessaccess point information 355, and destination information 357. The maps353 can include location and navigation information of area (e.g.,mapped area 7). The wireless access point information 355 can associateidentification information of signage in the mapped location (e.g.,signs 33) with coordinates of locations corresponding wireless accesspoints (e.g., wireless access points 35) in the mapped area. (See, e.g.,FIG. 9.) The destination information 357 can associate identificationinformation of destinations (e.g., destination 39) in the mapped areawith coordinates of particular destinations in the mapped area and withcoordinates of nearby wireless access points. (See, e.g., FIG. 10.)

Additionally, the storage system 335 can store chatbot information 361that can be referenced by the chatbot 225. The chatbot information 361can include keywords 363 and reference information 365. The keywords 363can include predefined words used in a bag-of-words model for naturallanguage processing. The reference information 365 can include rules,heuristics, and other logic for interpreting the content of messages(e.g., message 50). Additionally, the reference information 365 caninclude templates for use by the chatbot in generating questions andother messages to interact with the user.

Further, the storage system 335 can store user information 366. The userinformation 366 can be, for example, user profile information, facialrecognition information, demographic information, health information,account information, and mobile device information. The user information366 can be stored and retrieved by referencing a user identifier (e.g.,a name of the user or a reference number of the user), a mobile deviceidentifier (e.g., a MAC address), or facial recognition information. Theuser identifier can be obtained from a message sent by the mobile device(e.g., in message 50). The facial recognition information can beobtained from a camera included in the mobile device or cameras locatedin the mapped area (e.g., incorporated in and around signs 33 andwireless access points 35). The user information 366 can be obtained andstored locally in the mapping and navigation system 20. Additionally oralternatively, the user information 366 can be generated and storedoutside the mapping and navigation system 20. In some implementations,the user information 366 can reference a calendar or appointmentinformation of the user. In such implementations, the destinationdetermination module 245 can access the calendar or appointmentinformation and automatically determine the destination (e.g.,destination 39). For example, the user information 366 can store linksto records maintained by an electronic health records service, which mayinclude times, dates and locations of users' medical appointments. Basedon such information, as well as the current time and data, thedestination determination module 245 can predict the users' destinationswithout receiving any destination input from a user or a mobile device.

In embodiments, the computing device 330 includes one or more processors339 (e.g., microprocessor, microchip, or application-specific integratedcircuit), one or more memory devices 341 (e.g., RAM and ROM), one ormore I/O interfaces 343, and one or more network interfaces 345. Thememory device 341 can include a local memory (e.g., a random-accessmemory and a cache memory) employed during execution of programinstructions. Additionally, the computing device 330 includes at leastone communication channel 331 (e.g., a data bus) by which itcommunicates with the I/O device 333 and the storage system 335. Theprocessor 339 executes computer program instructions (e.g., an operatingsystem and/or application programs), which can be stored in the memorydevice 341 and/or storage system 335. The processor 339 can also executecomputer program instructions of a messaging module 209 and a mappingand navigation module 213, which can be the same or similar to thosedescribed previously herein. Moreover, the messaging module 209 caninclude a chatbot 225, which can be the same or similar to thatdescribed previously herein. Further, the mapping and navigation module213 can include an information extraction module 241, a locationdetermination module 243, a destination determination module 245, a mapgeneration module 247, and a message generation module 249, all of whichcan be the same or similar to those described previously herein.

It is noted that the computing device 330 can comprise anygeneral-purpose computing article of manufacture capable of executingcomputer program instructions installed thereon (e.g., a personalcomputer, server, etc.). However, the computing device 330 is onlyrepresentative of various possible equivalent-computing devices that canperform the processes described herein. To this extent, in embodiments,the functionality provided by the computing device 330 can be anycombination of general and/or specific purpose hardware and/or computerprogram instructions. In each embodiment, the program instructions andhardware can be created using standard programming and engineeringtechniques, respectively.

The flow diagrams in FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate examples of thefunctionality and operation of possible implementations of systems,methods, and computer program products according to variousimplementations consistent with the present disclosure. Each block inthe flow diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5 can represent a module, segment, orportion of program instructions, which includes one or more computerexecutable instructions for implementing the illustrated functions andoperations. In some alternative implementations, the functions and/oroperations illustrated in a particular block of the flow diagram canoccur out of the order shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. For example, two blocksshown in succession can be executed substantially concurrently, or theblocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theflow diagram and combinations of blocks in the block can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a flow block diagram illustrating an example of aprocess 400 for providing a map (e.g., mapping information 55) of amapped area (e.g., mapped area 7) to a mobile device (e.g., mobiledevice 10) of a user (e.g., user 5), in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure. At 401, a system (e.g., mapping and navigationsystem 20 executing messaging module 209) receives one or more messages(e.g., message 50) from a messaging application (e.g., messagingapplication 205) of the mobile device requesting location services. Insome implementations, receiving the message includes automaticallydetecting a request for location and routing information in a messagingsession (e.g., messaging session 221). For example, as detailedpreviously, the system (e.g., using chatbot 225) can determine that themessage constitutes a request for location and routing information basedon predetermined words or phrases in the message.

At 403, the system (e.g., using information extraction module 241) canobtain location information for the one or more messages received at401. In some implementations, the one or more messages received at 401may include all the information used by the system to determine a uniqueidentifier of a mobile device of the user, a current location of themobile device, a destination of the user, and a route therebetween. Inother implementations, the system can interactively interview the userusing to obtain such information. Obtaining the location at 403 caninclude, at 407 requesting a location identifier of the sign near theuser's current location. For example, the computing system (e.g., usingchatbot 225) may generate a message to requesting that the user providea location identifier of sign (e.g., sign 33A) near the user's currentlocation. At 411, the computing system may receive informationidentifying the user's current location (e.g., “33A”) in response to therequest sent at 407. Additionally, obtaining the location at 403 caninclude, at 415, requesting that the user identify a destination (e.g.,destination 39). For example, the computing system (e.g., using chatbot225) may generate a message requesting that the user provide a locationidentifier of the destination (e.g., “please let me know where you areheaded”). At 419, the computing system may receive informationidentifying the user's destination (e.g., “cafeteria”) in response tothe request sent at 415. If the destination does not correspond to anyof the predetermined location in the mapped area (e.g., there is nocafeteria), then the computing system can interact with the user toidentify a location stored by the system.

At 423, the system (e.g., executing location determination module 243)determines the user's location based on the location identifier obtainedat 403. Determining the user's location can include, at 425, retrievinga pre-stored location (e.g., coordinates) corresponding to the locationidentifier of the signage (e.g., sign 33A). At 427, the system (e.g.,executing destination determination module 427) determines the user'sdestination. In some implementations, the system determines thedestination based on the destination identifier obtained at 403. In someimplementations, the system determines the destination based onpre-stored user information (e.g., user information 366), which canidentify a date, time, and location of an appointment. For example, theuser information can reference an electronic health record providingdetails of a doctor's appointment in the mapped area. Determining theuser's destination can include, at 429, retrieving a pre-storeddestination (e.g., coordinates) corresponding to the destinationidentifier (e.g., sign 33A).

At 431, the system may determine a mobile device identifier of themobile device (e.g., a MAC address). In some implementations, the mobiledevice may provide the mobile device identifier along with the messagesreceived at 401. In other implementations, the system determines themobile device identifier using information maintained by the wirelessaccess points (e.g., wireless access points 35). In someimplementations, at 435, the system can determine the wireless accesspoint (e.g., wireless access point 35A corresponding to the location ofthe user determined at 423, and, at 439, the system can determine themobile device identifier of the mobile device sending wireless signals(e.g., wireless signal 59A, such as a probe request) to the wirelessaccess point determined at 435. The system can receive the wirelesssignal information from the mobile device or from the wireless accesspoint. In some implementations, the system can distinguish the mobiledevice identifier of the user's mobile device from others connected tothe wireless access point by comparing it a mobile device identifierreceived with the message at 401. For example, the mobile device may belocated near one of several wireless access points. As such, it followsthat the user is also near a corresponding one of the signs. Using abackground Wi-Fi process, the mobile device may periodically orcontinuously send probe requests to identify which of the wirelessaccess points that may provide an improved Wi-Fi connection to themobile device. The closest wireless access point having a strongestsignal may match a timestamp of the probe request and the mobile deviceidentifier of the mobile device received by the wireless access point inthe text message sent by the user (which should include the sign'sidentifier), which allows the system to determine the mobile deviceidentifier of the mobile device. Subsequently, the system can track themobile device identifier to provide persistent, contextual text messagesabout the user's location can be exchanged without the need for a dataconnection (e.g., SMS)

Continuing the process 400 in FIG. 5, as indicated by referenceconnector “A,” at 501, the system (e.g., executing route determinationmodule) determines mapping and navigation information (e.g., a path)routing the user from the location of the user determined at 423 to thedestination determined at 427. At 503, the system (e.g., execution mapgeneration module 247) generates a map image including iconologyindicating the current location of the user determined at 423, thedestination obtained at 427, and the route determined at 501. At 505,the system (e.g., executing messaging module 249) provides the mappingand navigation information determined at 501 to the mobile device inresponse to the message received at 401 from the messaging applicationof the mobile device. In implementations, the mapping and navigationinformation includes the map generated at 503.

The system can track the location of the mobile device as the user movesthrough the mapped area from the original location determined at 427 inroute to the destination. At 507, the system can wait a predeterminedperiod of time before determining an updated location of the user (e.g.,15 seconds, 30 seconds, or one minute). At 509, the system (e.g.,executing location determination module 243) can determine an updatedlocation of the mobile. In implementations, doing so involves passivelytracking the mobile device using the wireless access points.Additionally or alternatively, the system can passively track the userusing image-based tracking techniques. For example, cameras located inthe mapped area can passively track the user using facial recognition.

In some implementations, determining the updated location at 509 caninclude, at 513, determining wireless access points receiving wirelesssignals (e.g., wireless signals 59, such as probe requests) from themobile device based on the mobile device identifier determined at 431.For example, the system can track the mobile device using passive Wi-Fi.At 517, the system can determine the signal strengths of the wirelesssignals (e.g., signal strengths 61) received by the wireless accesspoints determined at 513. At 521, the system can determine the updatedlocation of the mobile device by comparing the relative signal strengthsof the wireless signals determined at 517. For example, the system canestimate that user has departed a first wireless access point (e.g.,wireless access point 35A) and is approaching a second wireless accesspoint (e.g., wireless access point 35B) by comparing the signal strengthof a probes signals sent to the first and second wireless points. Theupdated information determined at 521 can be combined with otherlocation information obtained by the mobile device (e.g., GPSinformation and inertial navigation information), which may be shared bythe mobile device with the system during a messaging session (e.g.,messaging session 221). In some implementations, the system can usealternative methods of determining the current location of the user. Forexample, if the system is unable to determine that the user is at alocation near a particular sign based on communication between themobile device and a wireless access point, then the system cancommunicate with the user to clarify the user's location. In some cases,the clarification can be communicated through a SMS, MMS, or chatmassage, through telephone (e.g., using an automated voice responseunit), or through a mobile robot dispatched to the user to assist themin navigating to their destination. Further, in some implementations, inresponse to receiving a message from the user asking for assistance withdirections, and an employee or robot having an instance of the mappingand navigation system may be dispatched to the location of the user andmay reuse the map information generated from the system to navigate tothe user and lead the user to the destination.

At 525, the system (e.g., executing map generation module 247) cangenerate updated mapping and navigation information, including a mapwith updated iconology indicating the current location of the user alongthe route to the destination determined at 443. At 529, the system(e.g., executing messaging module 249) can send a message including themapping and navigation information to the messaging application of themobile device. At 533, the system can determine whether the updatedlocation is approximated or absolutely the same as the destinationlocation. If at 533 it is determined that the updated location isapproximately or absolutely the same as the destination location, thenthe process 400 ends. If at 533, the updated location is notapproximately or absolutely the same as the destination location, thenthe system can return to 505 and iteratively determine an updatedlocation of the user until the user reaches the destination.

While the process 400 is described above as providing mapping andnavigation information to users using a mobile device and wirelessaccess points, it is understood that the process 400 may be used incombination with other technologies, such as facial recognition andimage tracking. In some implementations, proximity detectors and imagingdevices can be positioned at locations throughout a mapped area (e.g.,combined signs 33 and/or wireless access points 35, or attached torobots, drones, or heads-up-display of a customer servicerepresentative). Using such proximity detectors and imaging devices themapping and navigation system can identify the user and track themthrough the mapped area. For example, when the system receives a messagefrom the user at 401, user information captured by the proximitydetectors and imaging devices can be associated with the messageinformation (e.g., name and MAC address of the mobile device 10). Suchinformation can be used by other proximity detectors and imaging devicesto identify and track the user as the user traverses the mapped area, asdescribed in 509.

Additionally, in some implementations, the system may lead or transportthe user to the destination. For example, using the request for locationservices at 401, location information obtained at 403 and 423, anddestination information determined at 427, an automated transport device(e.g., a drone or a wheelchair) may be dispatched to the user. Suchdevice may communicatively connect to the user's mobile device to accessincoming information (e.g., map information 55) about where the user issupposed to go from the user's phone. Using such information, thetransport device may automatically transport the mobile device and/orthe user to the destination. As such, the user may follow the automatedtransport device or be carried by the automated transport device to theuser's destination.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate examples of maps (e.g., maps 55) provided to amobile device (e.g., mobile device 10) of a user (e.g., user 5), inaccordance with implementations of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 showsa map 600 displaying an icon 605 depicting an initial location of theuser and icons 609 depicting a route from the initial location to anicon 613 depicting the destination. FIG. 7 shows an icon 617 depictingan updated location of the user and icons 609 depicting the route froman updated location to icon 613 depicting the destination. FIG. 8 showsan icon 621 depicting an updated location of the user along the icons609 depicting a second updated location at the end of the route 609located substantially or absolutely at to the icon 613 depicting thedestination.

FIG. 9 shows a table depicting an example of a data structure 900 thatcontains wireless access point information 355, in accordance withimplementations of the present disclosure. The wireless access pointinformation 355 can associate a wireless access point identifier 905(e.g., 35A) with a wireless access point location 909 within a mappedarea (e.g., coordinates within mapped area 7), a corresponding signidentifier 913 (e.g., sign 33A), a sign location 917 (e.g., coordinateswithin mapped area 7). Based on the wireless access point information355 stored in table 900, systems and methods disclosed herein candetermine a location of a user based on sign identification informationprovided by the user (e.g., FIG. 4, 423).

FIG. 10 shows a table depicting an example of a data structure 1000 thatcontains wireless destination information 357, in accordance withimplementations of the present disclosure. The destination information357 can include, a destination name 1005, a destination location 1009 inthe mapped area, and one or more wireless access points 1013 and 1017.Based on the destination name 1005, systems and methods disclosed hereincan a route to the destination location 1009 (e.g., FIG. 4, 443).

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particularembodiments described in this application, which are intended asillustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations canbe made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparentto those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods andapparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to thoseenumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from theforegoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intendedto fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosureis to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along withthe full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It isalso to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing examples of implementations, and is not intendedto be limiting.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one”or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articlesused to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specificnumber of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should beinterpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the barerecitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at leasttwo recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in thoseinstances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C,etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the senseone having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “asystem having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not belimited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” wouldinclude but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, Calone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those withinthe art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting twoor more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, ordrawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities ofincluding one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. Forexample, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include thepossibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” In addition, where features oraspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups,those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is alsothereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup ofmembers of the Markush group.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mapping and navigation system comprising: aprocessor; and one or more computer-readable data storage devicesstoring program instructions that when executed by the processor,control the mapping and navigation system to perform operationscomprising: receiving, via a network, one or more messages from amessaging application of a mobile device of a user requesting a map of amapped area; generating the map of the mapped area displaying an iconindicating a location of the user; and sending, via the network, the mapto the messaging application of the mobile device for display within themessaging application, wherein the messaging application is not amapping application of a mapping and navigation service.
 2. The mappingand navigation system of claim 1, wherein: the mapping and navigationsystem further comprises a messaging module configured to communicatewith the user through the messaging application; and the messagingapplication is a text messaging application or a chat application. 3.The mapping and navigation system of claim 2, wherein the messagingapplication is not a mapping application of a mapping and navigationservice.
 4. The mapping and navigation system of claim 2, wherein themobile device lacks any mapping and navigation application configured tocommunicate with the mapping and navigation system.
 5. The mapping andnavigation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more messages include apredetermined identifier obtained from one of a plurality of locationsigns in the mapped area.
 6. The mapping and navigation system of claim1, wherein the operations further comprise: obtaining an identifier of afirst sign of a plurality of signs at the mapped area from the one ormore messages; and determining the location of the user based on apredetermined location of the first sign.
 7. The mapping and navigationsystem of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: obtaining anidentifier of a first destination of a plurality of destinations at themapped area from the one or more messages; and determining a routethrough the mapped area from the location of the user to the firstdestination.
 8. The mapping and navigation system of claim 7, whereingenerating the map of the mapped area comprises generating the map withiconology indicating the route from the location of the user to a firstdestination.
 9. The mapping and navigation system of claim 8, whereinthe operations further comprise: passively determining a currentlocation of the mobile device in the mapped area; generating an updatedmap of the mapped area displaying updated iconology indicating a routefrom the current location of the user to the first destination; andsending the updated map to the messaging application of the mobiledevice.
 10. The mapping and navigation system of claim 9, whereinpassively determining the current location of the mobile device in themapped area comprises determining the current location based on signalstrengths of one or more wireless signals communicated between themobile device and wireless access points of the network.
 11. The mappingand navigation system of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise: obtaining appointment information of the user, the appointmentinformation including a location, time, and date of an appointment ofthe user; obtaining an identifier of the location of the appointment atthe mapped area; and determining a route through the mapped area fromthe location of the user to the location of the appointment.
 12. Amethod comprising: receiving, by a computing device, via a network, oneor more messages from a messaging application of a mobile device of auser requesting a map of a mapped area; generating, by the computingdevice, the map of the mapped area displaying an icon indicating alocation of the user; and sending, by the computing device, via thenetwork, the map to the messaging application of the mobile device fordisplay within the messaging application, wherein the messagingapplication is not a mapping application of a mapping and navigationservice.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the messaging applicationis a text messaging application or a chat application.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the messaging application is not a mapping andnavigation application of a mapping and navigation service.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the mobile device lacks any mapping andnavigation application configured to communicate with the mapping andnavigation system.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:obtaining appointment information of the user, the appointmentinformation including a location, time, and date of an appointment ofthe user; obtaining an identifier of the location of the appointment atthe mapped area; and determining a route through the mapped area fromthe location of the user to the location of the appointment.
 17. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the one or more messages include apredetermined identifier obtained from one of a plurality of locationsigns in the mapped area.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein theoperations further comprise: obtaining an identifier of a first sign ofa plurality of signs at the mapped area from the one or more messages;and determining the location of the user based on a predeterminedlocation of the first sign.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein theoperations further comprise: obtaining an identifier of a firstdestination of a plurality of destinations at the mapped area from theone or more messages; and determining a route through the mapped areafrom the location of the user to the first destination.
 20. The methodof claim 19, wherein generating the map of the mapped area comprisesgenerating the map with iconology indicating the route from the locationof the user to the first destination.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein the operations further comprise: passively determining a currentlocation of the mobile device in the mapped area; generating an updatedmap of the mapped area displaying updated iconology indicating a routefrom the current location of the user to the first destination; andsending the updated map to the messaging application of the mobiledevice.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein passively determining thecurrent location of the mobile device in the mapped area comprisesdetermining the current location based on signal strengths of one ormore wireless signals communicated between the mobile device andwireless access points of the network.